Thailand to Recruit 10,000 Sri Lankan Workers Amid Labour Shortage

Thailand to Recruit 10,000 Sri Lankan Workers Amid Labour Shortage

BANGKOK, Sept. 11, 2026 — Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding and an employment agreement with Sri Lanka to establish a legal channel for recruiting 10,000 Sri Lankan workers, as the country seeks to address labour shortages in its economic and industrial sectors.

The Cabinet approved the two agreements on September 8, following a proposal from Thailand’s Ministry of Labour. The Thai government said Sri Lanka has been selected as an initial source of replacement workers amid labour shortages, including those resulting from Cambodian workers returning home following tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

The framework covers the recruitment and deployment of workers, health and criminal-record checks, employment contracts before departure, visas and work permits, health insurance, orientation and repatriation.

Under the agreement, Sri Lankan workers will initially receive two-year employment contracts, which can be extended for another two years.

Workers will be required to return to Sri Lanka after completing their contracts, with employers responsible for repatriation costs.

The agreements also provide for equal and fair treatment under Thai labour law. Workers will be entitled to the rights and benefits stipulated in their employment contracts and Thai law, including access to legal procedures in cases of employment disputes.

Thailand and Sri Lanka will also cooperate in exchanging labour-market information, developing workers’ skills and productivity, and preventing illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The two agreements will remain in force for five years and will automatically renew for additional five-year periods, according to the Thai government.

Thailand’s government said the framework is intended not simply to increase the number of foreign workers, but to create a transparent and traceable recruitment system that connects workers with sectors facing genuine labour shortages while reducing risks associated with illegal recruitment, excessive recruitment fees, irregular migration and human trafficking.

The move comes as Thailand faces labour shortages following disruptions in the supply of Cambodian migrant workers. Thai authorities have previously acknowledged concerns from businesses over shortages of foreign workers, particularly in industrial, construction and agricultural sectors.

The first group of Sri Lankan workers is expected to enter Thailand through the new system once the agreements are formally implemented and recruitment procedures are completed.